Primer valve



April 18, 1939. P. s. GOSS 2,154,811

PRIMER VALVE Filed Feb. 12, 1937 NH T INVENTOR PH/L/P 5. 6055.

8 ATTORNEY v Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRIMER VALVE Application February 12, 1937, Serial No. 125,461

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in primer valves of automatic operation which may be readily connected in a water supply line within a dwelling or building and by branch communications connected with a .floor drain trap for the purpose of automatically supplying intermittent amounts of water to the trapto compensate for evaporation, and to thereby prevent breaking of the water-seal and the resultant escapement of poisonous gases and foul disease-laden air from the sewer into the dwelling or other structure.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision. of a valve of this character that will, through a self-cleaning element, meter an unfailing supply of water to a trap without being subjected to the disadvantages ordinarily accompanying a small metering opening that frequently closes entirely due to accumulation of foreign substances carried by nearly all present-day water supplies, such as vegetable acids, and a small portion of chlorine. and where exposed to atmospheric oxygen, as these valve parts usually are, they will corrode and if left unused for any considerable time corrosion will cause the valve to stick.

In accomplishing the foregoing results and in overcoming the disadvantages above pointed out. I provide a valve having a self-cleaning feature in the form of a loosely, or yieldingly mounted, pin suspended through the metering opening and adapted to oscillate, swing or rotate within the opening not only for cleaning purposes and for freeing any particles-which might lodge in the valve and clog it, but also to prevent the pin and the wall of the opening from wearing in one place as they would if the pin were held rigid. Moreover, the pin is free to center itself at all times with respect to the opening and thus permits a smooth stream of water to hug the pin throughout its length and to flow off the bottom of the pin without splashing.

Another object is the provision of means to effectually prevent siphonage of polluted water from a trap into a supply system in case of a breakage in a water main or any other contingency that would tend to cause such action.

These and other objects will appear as my invention is more fully hereinafter described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve showing its various parts in an inoperative and closed position.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the parts in a full open or operative position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail View of the lowermost end of a plunger illustrating a cleaning pin in operative engagement therewith.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the plunger.

Referring to the drawing in detail, reference numeral l indicates the main body of the valve of generally cylindrical bore 2 which is reamed and finished smoothly. The upper end of the bore is closed by a removably mounted cap 3 having a suitable gasket 4 interposed between it and the top of the valve body. m

The opposite end of the bore is closed by an integral wall 5; apertured as at 6 to receive a bushing l which is preferably made of nqncorrodible metal. The bushing is formed with a discharge opening FA. The upper end of the bushing is enlarged and cup-shaped as shown. The shouldered portion of the enlargement bears against the wall 5 and maintains the bushing in place. The lower end of the body I extends below the wall 5 and terminates in an internally thread- 0 ed end. 8 for communication with a pipe connection to the floor drain trap.

An inlet 9 is in open communication with the interior of the bore 2 by means of the opening It. On the opposite side an outlet I I is provided 35 and is'in communication with the bore 2 through the opening I2.

Slidably mounted within the bore 2, is a plunger [3 formed with three enlargements, or pistons, l4, l5 and Hi. The upper end of the plunger is provided with any approved form of adjustable abutment, preferably in the form of a machine screw I! threaded into the plunger body and locked thereto by a binding nut l8.

The piston I4 is slotted as at IRA to form a bypass for the escapement of any water or air that might become trapped above this piston. A light compression spring I9 is interposed between the upper end of the plunger l3 and the closure cap 3 to normally maintain the plunger in its 50 down position, as shown in Figure l.

The lowermost piston IB is counter-bored as at 20 (see Figure 5) to receive a suitable gasket or sealing washer 2|. This end of the plunger is hollow for a portion of its length and internally threaded, as at 22, to receive an externally threaded bushing 23. The bushing is formed with a relatively large bore 24 extending throughout its length to loosely embrace a cleaning-pin 25, which is supported with respect to the bushing by an enlarged head 26. The pin may thus be rotated in either direction with respect to the bushing and is also allowed reciprocal as Well as swinging movement or universal movement with respect thereto.

The two upper pistons l4 and I 5 will have a close working fit in the bore 2 to stabilize the plunger and to prevent its chattering when in operation. The fit of the bottom piston within the bore should be such that water under pressure will be forced around it and out through the bushing 1. A fit of this kind enables the water to escape at any time the plunger is lifted to any degree and the valve or seal 2| is removed from its seat on the bushing 1. However, I may choose to fit the piston l 6 more snugly in the bore so that water will not escape around it, and so that .water will not be discharged until the plunger has moved into its uppermost position, as shown in Figure 2, at which time the piston l 6 has cleared the opening I and has allowed water to flow into the bore. 7

This valve will customarily be installed in a water supply line to a frequently used fixture such as a faucet in a kitchen sink or in a bathroom. The inlet 9 will be connected to a source of water supply under pressure and the outlet ll will be a continuation of this water supply to the fixture. When the fixture is closed, and no water is being used, a balanced pressure will exist throughout the valve except that there will be a hydrostatic influence to keep the plunger down and the valve .or seal 2| in contact with its seat I. This hydrostatic pressure will be in addition to the slight pressure imposed by the spring I9.

When the faucet or other fixture is opened and water flows from the inlet 9 toward the outlet H, the reduction in pressure on the outlet sidewill cause pressure under the upper pistons l4 and I to raise the plunger toward the position shown in Figure 2. The resultant unseating of the valve M from the bushing will allow water under pressure to flow through the bushing along the pin 25 and to be finally discharged into the pipe leading from the threaded end 8 of the valve body into the floor drain tap.

In cases where the piston I6 is in water-tight relation to the walls of the bore 2 water cannot escape around it at any time it is disposed below the lower edge of the opening Ill. Therefore, it is necessary that the plunger be lifted to its uppermost limit of travel, as determined by the setting of the abutment screw 11, before water can be discharged through the opening IA and into the trap connection. It is preferable that the screw be set to stop the upward movement of the plunger at a point where the bottom edge of the piston l6 clears the lower edge of the opening. In to a slight degree to thereby limit the flow of water to be discharged to a relatively small amount as compared to what it would be if the opening H] were entirely uncovered.

In the lower extremity of the valve body I, I provide vent openings 21 for the purpose of preventing siphonage of polluted water from a trap into the fresh water supply in case of breakage of the water main, or in case a heavy demand is made thereon, for example, to supply fire-fighting equipment and the like, or under any other conditions that would create a suction in the water supply line leading to the valve body. These vent openings are shown and described in my United States Patent No. 1,970,744, dated August 21, 1934, and further shown in United States Patent No.1,759,826, dated May 20, 1930.

While I have shown a particular form of embodiment of my invention, I am aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: v

1. A primer valve consisting of a cylinder having a water inlet connected with a water supply and an outlet connected with a plumbing fixture, a plunger slidably mounted in the cylinder, a valve formed on the lower end of the plunger, a valve seat surrounding a discharge opening in the bottom of the cylinder, said valve adapted to rest upon the valve seat to close the discharge opening when the plumbing fixture is closed, a cleaning pin loosely suspended from. the lower end of the plunger and extending through said discharge opening.

2. A primer valve consisting of a cylinder having a water inlet opening connected with a water supply and an outlet connected with a plumbing fixture, a hydraulically operated plunger slidably mounted in the cylinder and adapted to normally seal the lower portion thereof, a discharge opening formed in the bottom of the cylinder and adapted to be closed by said plunger, said plunger being adapted to allow water to flow into the lower portion of the cylinder and out through the discharge opening after the lowermost end of the plunger has risenabove the bottom edge of said water inlet opening.

PHILIP S. GOSS. 

